Device for indicating liquid-levels at a distance.



sl Q. KUNE, IRI DEI/ICB FR INDICATING LIQUID LEVELS AT A DISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.5, |914,

mig; Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3v S'. O. KLNE, JK. DEVICE FOR INDCATING LIQUID LEVELS AT A DISTANCE,

' APPLICATION FILED Nov.5. 1914.'

1,162,699. aened Nov. 3G, MN5.

onirica.

SETE.' Q. KLIE, JR., 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DEVICE FOR'INECATING LIQUID-LEVELS AT A DSTANEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed November A5, 1914. Serial No. 870,461.

To r//Z '107mm t may fo/merli:

Be it known that l, Sirrii Q. Kumi, Jr., a citizen of the linited States of America, residing at ll'ashiiigton, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Devices for indicating Liquid-Levels at a Distance, of which the following is a specification.

"his invention relates to an apparatus for indicating at a distant pointthe level of a body of water, and it has for its object the provision of improved means foi` electrically actuating at a distant point indicating mechanism selected and controlled by suitable selecting and controlling means actuated by 'the rise and fall of a iloat which rises and falls with the liquid the level of which it is desired to indicate at aldistant point.

Fui-ther objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed descriptif i which 'now follows.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the system, Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and part-ly in transverse Section of a circuit selecting and controlling. mechanism hereinafter described, Fig. 3 is a face View of the mechanism shown in Fig. Q, .with certain of the parts removed or broken away, Fig. d is a plan view of the indicating mechanism with a part of the casing removed, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the indicating mechanism with certain of the. parts removed and with some of the parts in sectioii,and Fig. 6 is a detailed View illustrating the locking pawls hereinafter described.

Like nulnerals designate corresponding parts in all of the gures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing and moreparticularly to Eig. l, numeral 5 designates a body of water the height of w iichit is de sired to indicate ata distant point. A ioat G rises and falls with the water, and this float has connected thereto a cord, wire, or cable 7, Iwhich passesA over a grooved pulley 3 and over an idler pulley 9, and has attached to its opposite end a counter weight 10. The idler pulley 9 is carried .by abear-V img ll which is secured to the base blockl of a circuitiselecting and controlling mechanisni which will now be described.y

Mounted upon the base hlock l2 is a suitable casing 13 provided with a sight opening 1l through which a4 dial 15 is visible.- A. hand or pointer 3.6 moves over this dialA to constitute a local indicator.l The pointer 16 is carried by a shaft 17 and this shaft carries a gear wheel 18 which meshes with a pinion i9 that is fast upon a shaft 20, and the pulley Sis likewise fast upon this shaft. It is apparent therefore, that through these connections movement of the float will be imparted to the pointer 16. The shaft 20 carries a pin 21 which extends beyond the shaft and enters cut-out portions 22' of the hub of a disk 23, and these outtuiiied portions are of such width that there is a slight lost m0- tion 'between the disk 23 and shaft 20,the purpose of which will be hereinafter Set forth. r The disk Q3 is provided with periph? eral lugs 24, which in their rotation are ali'- ranged to contact with a roller '25 that is mounted upon an angle arm 26. This angle arm is pivoted at 27 to one end of a bent lever 23, which lever is in turn pivoted at 29 to a plate 30. At its other end this lever .carries a roller 31. Therefore, when the disk Q3 rotates in a clockwise direction, (see Fig. 3) and one of the lugs Qllcontacts with roller 25, angle arm 26 is shifted bodily to the left and the bent lever 28 is swung upon-its pivot 29 to cause the roller 31 to Contact With and raise an extension .32 of a Weight 33, which weight is pivoted at 34. It is apparent that this will swing the lower part of the weight. toward the left iii Fig. l. If, however, the movement of the water 'is suoli as to cause the disk to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, then the movement of the angle arm Q6 will be toward the right in Fig. 3, and the weight will be moved in the saine direction as before, due to the fact that the end of the angle arm opposite to .the pivot27, is pivoted at 35 to a lever 36 which has a projection 37 engaging be ind a portion of the weight, and which lever is pivoted upon'the pivot Therefore, when the angle arm 2G is moved bodily toward the right, the lower end of lever 36 will be moved toward the leftand the weight will be moved iii the same direction as before. But rwhile the movement of this weight is always the same, Y the movements of the disk 23 in one direction or the other are caused to actuate a switch to select one or tlieother of a pair of ein cuits. This switch comprises a blade 38 and a head 39 and is pivoted at 40 to plate 30.. The head cari-ies extensions al and 42' which are spaced, from each other to leave a recess 43 between them, in which recess a pin coincident with roller 25, plays. The.v

blade 38 is arranged to be moved into engagement with either' of contacts 45 or 46. Contact 45 is in communication, through a conductor 47, with a binding post 48, While contact 46 is in communication, through a conductor 49, with a binding post 50.

The switch blade proper is connected by a conductor 5l with a contact element 52 that is carried by a fixed support 53. The armature bar 54 of a magnet 55 carries a cornpleniental contact point 56, which is in communication, by a conductor 57 with a binding post 58. A branch 59 leads from this conductor 57 through the windings of the magnet 55'and through a conductor (S0 to a binding post 46l. A spring G2 normally tends tolift the armature bar. 54 to bring the contacts and 56 into engagement with each other. But this bar is normally restrained by-a latch 53 which is pivoted at 64 and is normally drawn by a spring into position to engage the 'armature bar andto restrain it from moving upwardly. Now, therefore, if the disk 23 he rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3, and one of the lugs 24 thereof contacts with roller the switch is moved to bring the lower end ot' its blade into engagement with contact- 46, and at the Sametime the weight vis lifted as described. As soon, however. as the lug passes over the center oi' the roller, the lost motiorrengagement provided by pin 21 and the cnt-`out portion Q2 ot the hub ot' the disk permits this disk to haven quick, forward movement, and this in turn permits the weight to drop 'freely to restore arm Li' and the connected parts to neutral position; and when this weight drops. a tail (S6 thereof Contacts with the lower end of the latch -Gfand moves the latch against the action of spring 62 to release armature har 54, whereupon, spring (l2 lifts this bar and completes the circuit between thel conductors 51 and 57. 'lhis selecting and controlling of a circuit is utilized at a distant point to indicate the rise and iall of the, liquid 5 through the medium of the. indicating mechanism illustrated in Figs.- 1.4,1nd-5- By referring lo the layout o1 the system illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that binding post. 58 is connected by a conductor 67 with one of the poles ot' the storage battery 68, or other source oi electrical energy. The opposite pole of this battery'is connected by a. conductor 69, with one of the. binding posts 70 ot' a magnet '7h One ot the windings of this magnet is indicatedv at l2 and the return from the' winding of this magnet is in-v dicated at 73, and is connected to a binding post 74. This binding post is in turn connected by a 'conductor 75 with binding post 5o. Binding post 48 is connected bv a conductor 71S with a binding post' 77 of a magnet 78. One of the terminals of the winding oi? this magnet is indicated at 79 and is COI1- nected to binding post 77. The opposite terminal of this magnet is indicated at 8U and leads to and is connected to post 70 which post is connected by a conductor 711 to a contact element 82 that vis carried'by `the armature' bar 81 o1. magnet 78. mental contact member S3 is carried by a sheet metal housing S4 that is secured bv screws S5 upon the top ot' the magnet. This Contact member 8?, is connected by a con#A ductor 8 6 with a binding post 87. This binding post 87 is connected by a conductor 88 with the binding post (31. rl`he bindintr post 87 is also connected b v a conductor Si to a contact element Si() mounted upon the housing 511 that is secured by screws 5)!d upon the top of magnet 71. The complemental member 13 is carried bv the armature bar $14- ol magnet 71 andv is connected by a conductor .15 to the binding post 7U.

'.\"lounted within the easing .N within which the indicating mechanism is inclus-ed. is a ratchet wheel 17 that is engaged by a pair of locking pawls 0H and Sin that are pivoted at 1U() and 101 and are normal-lv held bv springs `102 and Hifi into engagement with ratchet wheel 97. rl`hese pawls are provided with tails 104 and 105 that aril adapted to be engaged by releasing lingers 11113 and 1117 that are pivoted at 1118 and 10) t() extensions ot' the armature bars. pawls 111) and 111 are -pivotally mounted upon the ends oi' the armature bars amlearry tails 112 and 1.1i', that are arranged to engage at the proper time with screws 114- and 115 carried hv the housings S4 and 111. Springs 11G and 117 normally tend to hohl these pawls into `mature bars more upwardly the releasing huge-.rs move over the tails 104 and 105 otv the locking pawls 99. this action being permitted .by the fact that these releasing fingers are. pivoted at 108 and 10?) and that th'ev have extensions r/wbich engage with pins o of the extensions of the armature bars, so that these releasingfingers are capable of swinging movement ir one t" c tion but not in the other. The i v.tchet n =el 5,17 is` mounted upon a shaft 119 which carries a pointer 120 that moves over a dial 121.

Assuming that the disk 3 is moved in a clockwise direction in. Fig. 3, the raction of the parts heretofore described will complete a circuit 21"' follows: :from the battery A comple-fA fil (3S conductor 6l', binding post 58, conductor 5T, Contact 56, contact 52, conductor 5l, switch 38, contact 46, conductor li). binding post 5l), conductor T5, binding post 'ff-. inagnet T-l, bindingr post 70, and conductor .65),

hack to battery (3S. This will result in drawingr the armature bar 94 downwardly and the initial movement of this bar downwardly will first cause releasing' finger l0? to release the locking pav'l' Qll and by this time tail lill will haveinoved out of enagement` with screw 115 and pawl 1l i will engage the ratchet wheel il? to impart a movement to pointer l2() to move it one division upon the dial 121. Ag soon as the releasing finger 107 slips off of the tail 105 of locking pawl 99, this paivl immediately moves back into engagement` 'ith the ratchet wheel to prevent over-throw of parts and to make the pointer l2() register accurately with'the division marlr` At the completion of4 the movement contact 93 moves into engagement `with contact 90 and a circuit is completed as follows: from battery. 38 to conductor of), binding post 70, conductor 95, contacts 93,

and Slt), conductor Si?, binding post 87, conf ductor SS, binding post (Si, conductor (S0, magnet 55, branch conductor 59. conductor 57, binding post 5 8, conductor 67 to battery (i8, whereby magnet is energized, the

armature bar 5J: is drawn downwardly, and Athe circuit heretofore described as energiring magnet isvbrolten at the contacts 52 and't. Consequently armature bar 9e iinniediately larises under the influence of spring 118, and the parts are restored to the proper position to repeat the operation heretofore described.v And since this return of the armature bar 94 breaks the circuit 'that t5 li ,energizes magnet 55, at the contacts El() and` 93, and the armaturebar 5t is tlieiieafter held in itsdepressed position by the latch-(i3, it follows that this api'iaratns uses no current except when 'the indicating hand l2() is actually being moved. r.'t`herefore, a battery once charged will last for many months, and a device that is'extreinelyeconomical in operation is secured.

it is thought that the operation ofthe de-v vice in the opposite direction will be readily apparent, but it may be stated that the clos# ing of the circuit to energize magnet 78 is as follows: from the battery through conductor 67, binding post 58, conductor 57, contacts 5G and 52, conductor 5l, switch 38, contact 45, conductor 47, binding post 48, `traductor 7G, binding; post 77, through the magnety windings.y conductor 80. binding post 70. and through conductor 69 bacli to 'die battery. lWhen the armature bar 81 is hawn downwardly a circuit is completed (com the battery through conductor 6l), iding post 70, conductor 79a, contacts 82 sind 83, binding post 87, conductor 88, bindpost 6l, conductor 60, branch 59, con` thi actuation of the pointer 120 for a givenI rise of the water, have here shown the local indicator conii'iiising pointer 16 as being moved from O to l to indicate one foot rfor one complete rotation of grooved pulley H. lisli 22S carries live of the lugs and since this disk is fast upon the same shaft pulley S is fast upon, it follows that each lug represents two-tentlis of a foot. Therefore, cach graduation mark upon the dial 121 iii- .dicates two-tenths Of va foot and the numerals indicate feet. and l preferabljvf arrange these numerals to indicate plus77 or "'ininus" upon opposite sides of a certain point. However, the arrangement of the graduations may be va ried'at will,

' From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided inv this apparatus efficient means for recording the level of a bo'dy of water at a distant point. This being accomplished electrically, expensive, unreliable, aiid cumbersome mechanical connections are avoided, overthrow of the parts is positively guarded against, so that an ac,l

curate movement of the indicator is assured; no current is used except when the device is actually operating to produce a change in the readingg' the switch is positively moved to select and close itsA circuit before the weight acts to complete the circuit, and therebyburning and pittiingT of the cont-act points is avoided. lt is highly undesirable in devices of this character to have the contact elen'icnts directly carried by and movablc` with the float, for the reason that'ivliere the rise of the .water is a slight one, and it usually is, when these Contact points get nearly into contact with each other, arcing results and the contact points are badly burned and pitted. Furthermore, in devices where the .contact points are directly cai'- ried by the float, when they nearly in to ln the presentapwhich they are intended, it is-to be underf stood that the invention is not limited to the precise coustructioi'i set forth, but includes within its purview such changes may be made within the scope of the appendedV claims.

Having described my invention what l claim is: i

i. in a device for indicating a liquid level at a. distant point, the combination `circuit actuating means or said circuit closing memher is included, and circuit closing elements in said lastnamed circuit which are actuated and controlled hy the electrical actuat-v ing means of. said electrical indicator, and adapted and arranged to maintain the last named circuitopen during the time that the electrical actuating mechanism of the indicator is denergized and to close said circuit at the completion of the operating movement o'f'said mechanism.

2. ln a device for indicating a liquid level at a distant point, the combination with a l switch closing mechanism, of means actu ated by the rise and fall oi a liquid for actuating said mechanism, an electrically actuated indicator at a distant point., electrical 'means for actuating said indicator, an electric 'circuit leading from said means to said s\ itch, a circuit closing element included in said circuit, means for actuating said circuit closing element electrically and means for actuating said circuit closing element mcchanically, a circuit in which the electrical actuating means of said circuit closing meniher is included, and circuit closing elements in said last named circuit which are actuated and controlled by the electrical actuating' means of .said electrical indicator, and adapted and arranged to maintain the last named circuit enen during the 'time that the electrical actuating' mechanism of the indicator is denergized and to close said circuit at the completion oi the operating moveu ment of: said mechanism, the closing of the last named circuit serving to energize the electrical actuating means oi the circuit closing inen'ilier and Vlo actuate said` circuit closing n'ieinlier, and a latch for holding said 'l -sing member in the position to u'hich is moved by said electrical actuating means.

3. fin a device 'for indicating a liquid level at' a distant point, the combination `with a switch closingmechanism, of means actuated. by the rise and fall of a liquid ior actuating said mechanism, an electrically actuated inlictator at a distant point, electrical means for actuating said indicator, an electric circuit leading from said means to said switcl'i,

a. circuit-closing element included in said' circuit, means lor actuating said circuit clos-- ing clement electrically and means for actuatingl said circuit closing elementniechanically, a circuit in which the electrical actuating means of said circuit closing member is included, and circuit closing elements in said last named circuit which are actuated and controlled by tlieielectrical actuating means of said electrical indicator, and adapted and arranged to maintain the last named circuit open during the time that.the electrical actuating mechanism of the indicator is denergized and to close said circuit. at thecompletion of the operating movement of said mechanism, the closing of the last named circuit serving to energize the electrical actuatingl means of the circuit closing member and to actuate said circuit closing member, and a latch for holding said circuit closing member in the position to which it is movedby said electrical actuating means, and means actuated by the switch closing mechanism for engaging and releasing said latch. v

4. In a device for indicating a liquid level at a distant point, the combination with a switch closing mechanism, of means actuated by the rise and fall of a liquid for actuating said mechanism, an electrically actuated indicator at a distant point, electrical means for actuating said indicator, an electric circuit leading from said means to said switch, a circuitclosing element included in said circuit, means for actuating said circuit closing element electrically, and means for actuating said circuit closing element trical actuating means of Asaid circuit clos ing member is included, and circuit closing elements in said last named circuit which are actuated and cfmti'olled by the electrical actuating means of said electrical indicator, and adapted and arranged to maintain the last named circuit open during the time that the electrical actuating mechanism of the indicator is delinergized and to close said iii-cuit lit-,thc completion of the operating movement olt said mechanism, the closing of the last named circuit serving to energize the electrical actuating means of the circuit closing member and to actuate said circuit closing member, and a latch for holding said circuit closing memlicr in the position to` which it is moved by `said electrical actuating means, and means actuated by the switch closing mechanism for engaging and releasing said latch after said switch closing mechanism has completed its movement.

In. a device for indicating a liquid level at a distant point, the combination with a switch 'closing mechanism, of means actuated by the rise and fall of a liquid for actuating said mechanism, an electrically actuated indicator at a `distant point, electrical means for actuating said indicator, an electric circuit leading from said means to said switch, a circuit closing element included in closing element electric-ahy and means for actuating' said circuit closing element me chanically, a circuit in` which the electrical actuating means oli said'circuit closing meinlicr is included. and ciifciiit closing elements in said last named circuit which arc actuated and controlled hy the electrical aetuat ing means oi' said electrical indicator.y and adapted and arranged to maintaiirthe last named circuit'opcn during the time that the electrical actuating mechanism of the. indicator is deinergizcd and to close said circuit at the completion ol' the operating increment of said mechanism.the closing ot' the. last named circuit serving to energize thc. clcc tricai actuating meansv oi' the circuit closing memher and to actuatc said circuit ciosing mcinlier, and a latch for holding said circuit closing menilicr in thc position to lvhich it is moved hy said electrical actuating means, and a swingingly mounted weight arranged to lic lifted h v the switch closing mechanism, which. when released, engages said hitch to release said circuit closing memiicr.

t3. in a device 'l'or indicating a liquid level at a distant point, the combination with a switch closing mcchaiiism, ol' means actuated hyY thc rise. and tall of the iiipiid vfor actuating said mechanism, an indicator at a distant point, a magnet for actuating said indicator. an armature har arranged to he attracted h y said magnet, a circuit closingy clement carried hy said armaturel liar, an electric circuit in which said magnet and said switch arc included, a circuit closing clement in said circuit, a magnet for actu'- ating the last named circuit closing clement.y and a circuit in which thc hist named niagnct and the first named circuit closing ele nient arc included.

7. in a device oi' the character dcscrihcd the coi'nhination with an indicating mechanism oi electrical'means i'oractuating said indicating nicchanisn'i, comprising a pair of magnets, one oi' which when energized actuatcs said indica-ting mechanism in one direc tion and the other oi' which when energized actuates said indicating mcchanisnrin the opposite direction, a float controlled switch, a pair oi circuits, one or the other ot' which is closed at a time to actuate one or the other oivsaid magnets, a circuit controlling mechanism common to both of said circuits and arranged to he electrically actuated and to-hreak the circuit of said magnets when actuated electrically and circuits controlle-'l hy the energizing of the magnets of the indicator and arranged to he ciosed when said magnets are energized and thereby eiectri cally actuate said mechanism to open the first named circuits.

8. In a device oi the character described/,v the comhination with an indicator compr/ising a pair ot' magnets, an indicating element actuated in one 'direction when one ot' said 65 nnigncts is energized and actuated in the opposite direction when the other of said vmagnets is energized, a pair of circuits for said magnets, a switch for completing said one or the other o' said circuits at a given 70 time and common to hoth ol' said circuits, alA magnet having a niorahlel armature liar, circuit controlling elements vcarried by said armature liar am] arranged to control the comiiion portion of the circuits to the first namedl magnets, mechanical meansnormally tending to more the armature liar to close said circuit, an additional circuit leading to the hist named magnet which is closed h y thc energizing'ol' the irst named magnets and 80 means for holding the armature hai' of the iast named magnet against the action ol' its mechanical actuating means al'tcr said last named magnet has heen energized.

i). in a device, of the character described, a5 the combination with an indicator compris` ing a pair oi magnets. an indicating element actuated in one direction when one ol4 said magnets is energized and actuated in the opposite direction when the other oll said 9.0 magnets is energized.r al pair of circuits for said magnets, a switch for completing said one or the other olA said circuitsat a given time and common tolioth ol' said circuits, a magnet ha ring a morahl.: armature liar, circuit controlling elements carried h y said armature har and arranged to control the common portion ot' the circuits to the. irst named magnets, mechanical means normall)l tend-i, ing to more the armature liar to closesaid circuit, :in additional circuit lleading to the last naincd magnet which is closed by the energizing ol' the first named magnets, means for hoiding thc ariiiiiturc liar ol' thc last named magnet against the action of its me- 'chanical actuating means after said last named magnet has heen energized, and mechanical means in which power is stored duringl the closing movement ol thc switch which acts after the completion of the closing movement of the switch to release said holding means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIITH Q. KLINI), Je, Viitncsses Fiumi( "i", CAMPBELL, Scritti. Kumi. 

